Seeking direct cathode regeneration for more efficient lithium-ion battery recycling

As lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) continue to expand their applications, an effective and economic end-of-life strategy urgently demanded the development of closed-loop manufacturing and the improvement of resource sustainability in the LIB industry. Compared with conventional hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical recycling methods, the direct recycling process is capable of rejuvenating both spent electrodes while avoiding intensive energy and chemical usages, which significantly reduces the cost and secondary wastes. This short review analyzes the recent progress in direct recycling of LIB cathodes with some highlights in the challenges and limitations of materials properties and resource sustainability. It also presents an outlook on the next-generation recycling of spent LIBs with higher environmental benefits and economic returns.     

Reverse-flow adsorption for process-integrated recycling of homogeneous transition-metal catalysts

Supramolecular strategies, based on hydrogen bonds and ionic interactions, were investigated as tools for the recovery and recycling of homogeneous transition-metal catalysts by using reverse-flow adsorption (RFA) technology. The association (in solution) and adsorption (on support) of new functionalized host materials and phosphine guest ligands, functionalized with the complementary binding motifs, were fine-tuned for the application of these materials in a RFA reactor. The RFA technology for process-integrated recycling of homogeneous catalysts using these tailor-made phosphine ligands and silica-supported host materials resulted in a stable, semicontinuous catalytic system. Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of methyl acetamidoacrylate and asymmetric hydrosilylation of acetophenone were studied as test reactions. Depending on the catalytic process the metal complex could be recycled several times without significant loss in conversion.     

Pulsed Laser Deposition as a Tool for the Development of All Solid-State Microbatteries

All-solid-state lithium ion batteries (LIB) are currently the most promising technology for next generation electrochemical energy storage. Many efforts have been devoted in the past years to improve performance and safety of these devices. Nevertheless, issues regarding chemical and mechanical stability of the different components still hinder substantial improvements. Pulsed laser deposition (PLD) has proved to be an outstanding technique for the deposition of thin films of materials of interest for the fabrication of LIB. Thanks to its versatility and possible fine tuning of the thin film properties, PLD promises to be a very powerful tool for the fabrication of model systems which would allow to study in detail material properties and mechanisms contributing to LIB degradation. Nevertheless, PLD presents difficulties in the deposition of LIB components, mainly due to the presence of elements with large difference of atomic mass in their chemical composition. In this review, we report the main challenges and solution strategies used for the deposition through PLD of complex oxides thin films for LIB.     

Recent progress of surface coating on cathode materials for high-performance lithium-ion batteries

Lithium-ion batteries (LIB) have received substantial attention in the last 10 years,as they offer great promise as power sources that can lead to the electric vehicle (EV) revolution in the next 5 years.Since the cathode serves as a key component in LIB,its properties significantly affect the performance of the whole system.Recently,the cathode surface modification based on coating technique has been widely employed to enhance the electrochemical performances by improving the material conductivity,stabilising the physical structure of materials,as well as preventing the reactions between the electrode and electrolyte.In this work,we reviewed the present of a number of promising cathode materials for Li-ion batteries.After that,we summarized the very recent research progress focusing on the surface coating strategies,mainly including the coating materials,the coating technologies,as well as the corresponding working mechanisms for cathodes.At last,the challenges faced and future guidelines for optimizing cathode materials are discussed.In this study,we propose that the structure of cathode is a crucial factor during the selection of coating materials and technologies.     

Capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductivity detection for the quantification of fluoride in lithium ion battery electrolytes and in ionic liquids—A comparison to the results gained with a fluoride ion‐selective electrode

In this study, an optimized method using capillary electrophoresis (CE) with a direct contactless conductivity detector (C⁴D) for a new application field is presented for the quantification of fluoride in common used lithium ion battery (LIB) electrolyte using LiPF₆ in organic carbonate solvents and in ionic liquids (ILs) after contacted to Li metal. The method development for finding the right buffer and the suitable CE conditions for the quantification of fluoride was investigated. The results of the concentration of fluoride in different LIB electrolyte samples were compared to the results from the ion‐selective electrode (ISE). The relative standard deviations (RSDs) and recovery rates for fluoride were obtained with a very high accuracy in both methods. The results of the fluoride concentration in the LIB electrolytes were in very good agreement for both methods. In addition, the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) values were determined for the CE method. The CE method has been applied also for the quantification of fluoride in ILs. In the fresh IL sample, the concentration of fluoride was under the LOD. Another sample of the IL mixed with Li metal has been investigated as well. It was possible to quantify the fluoride concentration in this sample.     

Target recycling amplification for label-free and sensitive colorimetric detection of adenosine triphosphate based on un-modified aptamers and DNAzymes

Based on target recycling amplification, the development of a new label-free, simple and sensitive colorimetric detection method for ATP by using un-modified aptamers and DNAzymes is described. The association of the model target molecules (ATP) with the corresponding aptamers of the dsDNA probes leads to the release of the G-quadruplex sequences. The ATP-bound aptamers can be further degraded by Exonuclease III to release ATP, which can again bind the aptamers of the dsDNA probes to initiate the target recycling amplification process. Due to this target recycling amplification, the amount of the released G-quadruplex sequences is significantly enhanced. Subsequently, these G-quadruplex sequences bind hemin to form numerous peroxidase mimicking DNAzymes, which cause substantially intensified color change of the probe solution for highly sensitive colorimetric detection of ATP down to the sub-nanomolar (0.33 nM) level. Our method is highly selective toward ATP against other control molecules and can be performed in one single homogeneous solution, which makes our sensing approach hold great potential for sensitive colorimetric detection of other small molecules and proteins.     

Tea Bags for Fmoc Solid-Phase Peptide Synthesis: An Example of Circular Economy

Peptide synthesis is an area with a wide field of application, from biomedicine to nanotechnology, that offers the option of simultaneously synthesizing a large number of sequences for the purpose of preliminary screening, which is a powerful tool. Nevertheless, standard protocols generate large volumes of solvent waste. Here, we present a protocol for the multiple Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis in tea bags, where reagent recycling steps are included. Fifty-two peptides with wide amino acid composition and seven to twenty amino acid residues in length were synthesized in less than three weeks. A clustering analysis was performed, grouping the peptides by physicochemical features. Although a relationship between the overall yield and the physicochemical features of the sequences was not established, the process showed good performance despite sequence diversity. The recycling system allowed to reduce N, N-dimethylformamide usage by 25–30% and reduce the deprotection reagent usage by 50%. This protocol has been optimized for the simultaneous synthesis of a large number of peptide sequences. Additionally, a reagent recycling system was included in the procedure, which turns the process into a framework of circular economy, without affecting the quality of the products obtained.     

LiNbO_3-coated LiNi_(0.8)Co_(0.1)Mn_(0.1)O_2 cathode with high discharge capacity and rate performance for all-solid-state lithium battery

In order to obtain high power density, energy density and safe energy storage lithium ion batteries(LIB)to meet growing demand for electronic products, oxide cathodes have been widely explored in all-solidstate lithium batteries(ASSLB) using sulfide solid electrolyte. However, the electrochemical performances are still not satisfactory, due to the high interfacial resistance caused by severe interfacial instability between sulfide solid electrolyte and oxide cathode, especially Ni-rich oxide cathodes, in charge-discharge process. Ni-rich LiNi_(0.8)Co_(0.1)Mn_(0.1)O_2(NCM811) material at present is one of the most key cathode candidates to achieve the high energy density up to 300 Wh kg~(-1) in liquid LIB, but rarely investigated in ASSLB using sulfide electrolyte. To design the stable interface between NCM811 and sulfide electrolyte should be extremely necessary. In this work, in view of our previous work, LiNbO_3 coating with about 1 wt%content is adopted to improve the interfacial stability and the electrochemical performances of NCM811 cathode in ASSLB using Li_(10)GeP_2S_(12) solid electrolyte. Consequently, LiNbO_3-coated NCM811 cathode displays the higher discharge capacity and rate performance than the reported oxide electrodes in ASSLB using sulfide solid electrolyte to our knowledge.     

锂电隔膜研究及产业技术进展

隔膜是锂离子电池的关键材料,在极片间起绝缘和提供离子通道的作用.本文以如何构建耐高温的隔膜、如何提高隔膜的离子电导率为重点,介绍了锂电隔膜研究及产业化技术进展,内容主要包括隔膜性能的影响因素、凝胶聚合物电解质膜、拉伸法制备隔膜及其改性、隔膜制造的新方法和新材料.最后展望了隔膜的发展前景.     

Pretreatment of Plastic Waste: Removal of Colorants from HDPE Using Biosolvents

Plastics recycling remains a challenge due to the relatively low quality of the recycled material, since most of the developed recycling processes cannot deal with the additives present in the plastic matrix, so the recycled products end up in lower-grade applications. The application of volatile organic solvents for additives removal is the preferred choice. In this study, pretreatment of plastic packaging waste to remove additives using biosolvents was investigated. The plastic waste used was high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with blue and orange colorants (pigment and/or dye). The first step was to identify the type of colorants present in the HDPE, and we found that both plastics presented only one colorant that was actually a pigment. Then, limonene, a renewable solvent, was used to solubilize HDPE. After HDPE dissolution, a wide range of alcohols (mono-, di-, and tri-alcohols) was evaluated as antisolvents in order to selectively precipitate the polymer and maximize its purity. The use of limonene as solvent for plastic dissolution, in combination with poly-alcohols with an intermediate alkyl chain length and a large number of hydroxyl (OH) groups, was found to work best as an antisolvent (1,2,3-propanetriol and 1,2,4-butanetriol), leading to a removal of up to 94% and 100% of the blue and orange pigments, respectively. Finally, three cycles of extraction were carried out, proving the capability of the solvent and antisolvent to be recovered and reused, ensuring the economic viability and sustainability of the process. This pretreatment provides a secondary source of raw materials and revenue for the recycling process, which may lead to an increase in the quality of recycled polymers, contributing to the development of an economical and sustainable recycling process.     

A new concept for recycling of thermosetting resins I: The case of crosslinkable copolyesters

A new approach for the recycling and the direct reuse of thermosetting resins has been successfully applied to a crosslinkable copolyester system. The process is essentially an acetolysis of the polymeric network leading to multifunctional oligomers with carboxy and acetoxy end groups. These species can react again upon heating to give a new crosslinked copolyester system. In this work, the parameters for the acetolysis process have been established and the products obtained have been compared to the starting ones, by differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, mass spectrometry and dynamic mechanical analysis. The hydrolysis of the crosslinked copolyester has also been studied as a variation of recycling resulting in recovery of the monomeric units which compose the network.     

Electrochemical methods for sustainable recovery of lithium from natural brines and battery recycling

This short review covers the recent developments in electrochemical methods for the extraction of lithium from natural brines, seawater, and battery recycling electrolytes by ion-pumping mixing entropy cells and electrodialysis. Lithium extraction by ion pumping takes advantage of the selective intercalation in lithium battery cathode materials and the concentration difference between the lithium source and the recovery electrolyte. Electrodialysis has attracted much interest in particular for large Mg/Li ratios in some natural brines.     

‘Click’ silica immobilisation of metallo-porphyrin complexes and their application in epoxidation catalysis

We present the synthesis, via Adler condensation reactions, of mono- and tetrakis-4-(ethynyl-phenyl)porphyrin ligands and the zinc and manganese complexes thereof. The formed complexes were immobilised on silica by reacting the ethynyl groups with azide-functionalised silica in a copper(I) catalysed Huisgens 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction. The synthesised metallo-porphyrin containing materials were thoroughly characterised using various solid-state techniques (NMR, IR, UV-Vis, elemental content analysis). The manganese containing materials were applied as catalysts in the epoxidation of various alkenes (cyclooctene, cyclohexene, styrene) with various oxidants (iodosylbenzene, tert-butylperoxide). The heterogenised homogeneous catalysts show diminished activity and yields compared to the analogous homogeneous catalysts (71% yield cf. 92% for cyclooctene epoxidation, TOF 82 h⁻¹ cf. 230 h⁻¹). Upon recycling, the heterogenised catalysts become gradually less active over five cycles until they are catalytically inactive. The deactivation process is discussed, with spectroscopy suggesting that the catalysts themselves are intact and thus stable to the reaction conditions and recycling, however there is likely some decomplexation, and also both chemical and mechanical decomposition of the silica support resulting in inaccessibility to the catalytic site.     

Transmission Electron Microscopy as a Powerful Tool for Investigating Lithium-ion Battery Materials

Transmission electron microscopy(TEM) stands out as one of the most powerful tools for characterizing materials at multiple scales and dimensions. This unique technique has nowadays been widely employed in investigating the lithium-ion battery(LIB) materials. The present perspective paper focuses on several LIB related aspects that are recently revealed by using TEM. Finally, we present outlook on the future directions of TEM for LIB research and development.     

Zinc‐Catalyzed Depolymerization of End‐of‐Life Polysiloxanes

Polymers occupy an important role in our current society. Besides their great success, an issue is the accumulation of huge amounts of end‐of‐life polymers. Currently, the waste management is based primarily on landfills, thermal recycling, and downcycling. Notably, only a small portion of end‐of‐life materials is recycled by depolymerization, which refers to the creation of synthetic precursors that can be polymerized to new polymers to close the cycle. Widely used polymers in modern times are silicones (polysiloxanes), the intrinsic properties of which make their depolymerization demanding; only a few high‐temperature or less environmentally friendly processes have been reported. In this regard, we have established an efficient low‐temperature protocol for the depolymerization of silicones with benzoyl fluoride in the presence of cheap zinc salts as precatalysts to yield defined products. Notably, the products can be useful synthetic precursors for the preparation of new polymers, so that an overall recycling process is feasible.     

Silk fabric dyed with extract of sophora flower bud

This study analysed the use of sophora flower bud extract for dyeing and the resulting colour character and fastness of dyed silk fabric. The pigment composition on the silk fabric and recycling of this extract were also studied. The results indicated that the dyed silk fabric possessed good washing, rubbing and perspiration fastness, and the pigment composition on the silk fabric was mainly rutin and quercetin. The average recovery rate of the dye was 55.00%. These results demonstrate that the sophora flower bud extract is an effective natural dye.     

废旧动力锂电池回收利用技术的进展

简要介绍了动力锂电池的分类和回收利用流程,综述了国内外动力锂电池的化学、物理和联合回收工艺发展的现状,通过对比了各种回收工艺的特点,指出联合回收工艺是将来发展方向。     

磷烯包覆的高性能硅基锂离子电池负极材料

Si-based anode materials in Li-ion batteries (LIBs) suffer from severe volume expansion/contraction during repetitive discharge/charge, which results in the pulverization of active materials, continuous growth of solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layers, loss of electrical conduction, and, eventually, battery failure. Herein, we present unprecedented low-content phosphorene (single-layer black phosphorus) encapsulation of silicon particles as an effective method for improving the electrochemical performance of Si-based LIB anodes. The incorporation of low phosphorene amounts (1%, mass fraction) into Si anodes effectively suppresses the detrimental effects of volume expansion and SEI growth, preserving the structural integrity of the electrode during cycling and achieving enhanced Coulombic efficiency, capacity retention, and cycling stability for Li-ion storage. Thus, the developed method can also be applied to other battery materials with high energy density exhibiting substantial volume changes.     

Advances and approaches for chemical recycling of plastic waste

The global production and consumption of plastics has increased at an alarming rate over the last few decades. The accumulation of pervasive and persistent waste plastic has concomitantly increased in landfills and the environment. The societal, ecological, and economic problems of plastic waste/pollution demand immediate and decisive action. In 2015, only 9% of plastic waste was successfully recycled in the United States. The major current recycling processes focus on the mechanical recycling of plastic waste; however, even this process is limited by the sorting/pretreatment of plastic waste and degradation of plastics during the process. An alternative to mechanical processes is chemical recycling of plastic waste. Efficient chemical recycling would allow for the production of feedstocks for various uses including fuels and chemical feedstocks to replace petrochemicals. This review focuses on the most recent advances for the chemical recycling of three major polymers found in plastic waste: PET, PE, and PP. Commercial processes for recycling hydrolysable polymers like polyesters or polyamides, polyolefins, or mixed waste streams are also discussed.     

Application of EPMA to the localization and speciation of mercury in contaminated parts of chemical plants

The positions of enrichment of mercury and its compounds in surface layers and within the micro structure of metallic materials originating from closed-down chemical plants were detected by electron probe microanalysis. Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry is useful for the analysis of mercury. However, the energy resolution is not sufficient for detecting small amounts of sulphur and to measure quantitatively the chemical bonding state of mercury as sulphide or chloride. Therefore, it was also necessary to use a wavelength dispersive X-ray spectrometer. The results show that mercury is mainly present in surface layers, and only in small amounts directly at the surface of the bulk material. On the basis of the results obtained, a decontamination process for mercury contaminated parts can be developed which is necessary prior to waste deposition or recycling of those materials.Dedicated to Professor Dr. rer.nat. Dr. h.c. Hubertus Nickel on the occasion of his 65th birthday